*Power usage of an important computer application’s features in finding or analyzing genealogical records.

*Power usage of an important computer application’s features in finding or analyzing genealogical records.

*Use of computer hardware in genealogy.

*Use of computer hardware in genealogy.

−

*Lists of Family History Library materials derived from the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). The Wiki isn't meant to replicate the&nbsp;FHLC. However,&nbsp;when a FHLC entry fails to&nbsp;provide&nbsp;enough information for patrons to be able to use a resource, the Wiki, like [[Define|the in-house Registers at the FHL]], can complement the FHLC entry.

+

*Lists of Family History Library materials derived from the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). The Wiki isn't meant to replicate the&nbsp;FHLC. However,&nbsp;when a FHLC entry fails to&nbsp;provide&nbsp;enough information for patrons to be able to use a resource, the Wiki, like [[Define|the in-house Registers at the FHL]], can compliment the FHLC entry.

*Information on specific repositories.&nbsp;The Wiki is not intended to replicate the catalogs of other repositories, but it can be helpful to provide a general description of the major collections of a library or archive.&nbsp;

*Information on specific repositories.&nbsp;The Wiki is not intended to replicate the catalogs of other repositories, but it can be helpful to provide a general description of the major collections of a library or archive.&nbsp;

*Information on genealogical groups, such as genealogical societies, companies or non profit organizations. Although the wiki is not intended to replicate, for instance, the catalog of a genealogical society's library, it can be helpful to list certain facts about a genealogical society. Which facts are appropriate and which are not?

*Information on genealogical groups, such as genealogical societies, companies or non profit organizations. Although the wiki is not intended to replicate, for instance, the catalog of a genealogical society's library, it can be helpful to list certain facts about a genealogical society. Which facts are appropriate and which are not?

Line 47:

Line 47:

The community should discuss whether we want the site to include the following items:

The community should discuss whether we want the site to include the following items:

−

*'''Social networking'''. What are the possible applications/manifestations/values of social networking in genealogy, and which ones should we enable/disallow?

+

*'''Social networking'''. What are the possible applications/manifestations/values of social networking in genealogy and which ones should we enable/disallow?

*'''Predictions'''. There is value to what the future of genealogy will and should bring. To what extent should it be covered on this site?

*'''Predictions'''. There is value to what the future of genealogy will and should bring. To what extent should it be covered on this site?

*'''Long lists of Websites'''. What is long? Assuming we don't want to replicate Cyndislist, what limits should govern us in adding links?

*'''Long lists of Websites'''. What is long? Assuming we don't want to replicate Cyndislist, what limits should govern us in adding links?

*'''Limited-visibility content'''. Content that only members of a certain workgroup can see.

*'''Limited-visibility content'''. Content that only members of a certain workgroup can see.

−

*'''Long lists of Family History Library materials''' that are not viewable on the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). For instance, thousands of Greek films are in the FHL's collection, but are not viewable on the catalog. Should these be listed on the wiki?

+

*'''Long lists of Family History Library materials''' that are not viewable on the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). For instance, thousands of Greek films are in the FHL's collection but are not viewable on the catalog. Should these be listed on the Wiki?

*'''Alternate place names'''. Taken to its terminus, an effort to identify and post alternate place names becomes a names authority table. What should this site's limit be?

*'''Alternate place names'''. Taken to its terminus, an effort to identify and post alternate place names becomes a names authority table. What should this site's limit be?

−

*'''World Records Manager'''. Taken to its terminus, an effort to identify the best records to satisfy research objectives in any country in any time period using sources from anywhere becomes a catalog of all the world's genealogical records. What should our limits be?

+

*'''World Records Manager'''. Taken to its terminus, an effort to identify the best records to satisfy research objectives, in any country, in any time period, using sources from anywhere, becomes a catalog of all the world's genealogical records. What should our limits be?

−

*'''Name studies''', lists of common names for an area, or guidance as to the geographic distribution of names.

+

*'''Name studies.''' Lists of common names for an area or guidance as to the geographic distribution of names.

−

*'''Locality-centric research advice'''. To what extent should the wiki give advice to patrons based on where/how they access records? Should we give advice on satisfying research objective X in Library Y? How will localized advice be navigated, searched, and identified by title?

+

*'''Locality-centric research advice'''. To what extent should theWiki give advice to patrons, based upon where/how they access records? Should we give advice on satisfying research objective X in Library Y? How will localized advice be navigated, searched and identified by title?

−

*'''Political information relating to genealogy''', such as a bill that will restrict access to a record collection, or a move to purge a library's genealogical collection.

+

*'''Political information relating to genealogy.''' For example, a bill that will restrict access to a record collection or a move to purge a library's genealogical collection.

== References ==

== References ==

Revision as of 21:20, 11 October 2012

This page explains a policy, a widely accepted standard that all contributors should normally follow.

Please visit the talk page to add comments or suggestions for further development of the policy.

FamilySearch Wiki is...

FamilySearch Wiki is a tool people can use to learn how to find their ancestors. It offers information on how to find, use, and analyze records of genealogical value. The site’s content is variously targeted to beginners, intermediate researchers and experts.[1]Some suitable types of content for the wiki are:

Instructions on how to find, use and analyze records that are genealogically useful.

Historical definitions of legal terms, occupations and other terms that are useful to genealogists.

Images of records used as examples of the kind of information a type of record will contain.

FamilySearch Wiki is not...

A place to post (or find) information about a specific ancestor.

A place to post data sets and genealogical records, such as obituaries, military histories, or transcriptions of record sources.

A collection of product reviews.

An advertising medium for products or services.

A world encyclopedia of holidays and family traditions. Those which affect family history records or research methods are mentioned under specific countries.

A place to publicly post internal policies or contact information of the Family History Department or any other LDS Church affiliate.

A repository of knowledge regarding the use of FamilySearch products.

A place to survey users, solicit feedback or collect suggestions regarding the development of products other than this wiki.

A place to post religious doctrine or advocate or criticize religious practices.

Power usage of an important computer application’s features in finding or analyzing genealogical records.

Use of computer hardware in genealogy.

Lists of Family History Library materials derived from the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). The Wiki isn't meant to replicate the FHLC. However, when a FHLC entry fails to provide enough information for patrons to be able to use a resource, the Wiki, like the in-house Registers at the FHL, can compliment the FHLC entry.

Information on specific repositories. The Wiki is not intended to replicate the catalogs of other repositories, but it can be helpful to provide a general description of the major collections of a library or archive.

Information on genealogical groups, such as genealogical societies, companies or non profit organizations. Although the wiki is not intended to replicate, for instance, the catalog of a genealogical society's library, it can be helpful to list certain facts about a genealogical society. Which facts are appropriate and which are not?

Writings on the topics above can easily become bloated. For instance, while some kinds of geographic information can help genealogists learn where their ancestors may have migrated, others have little or no bearing on genealogy. When writing on any topic, then, the best rule of thumb is to ask “Have I made a good case as to how this information helps someone find, use, or analyze genealogical records?”

Items for Discussion

The community should discuss whether we want the site to include the following items:

Social networking. What are the possible applications/manifestations/values of social networking in genealogy and which ones should we enable/disallow?

Predictions. There is value to what the future of genealogy will and should bring. To what extent should it be covered on this site?

Long lists of Websites. What is long? Assuming we don't want to replicate Cyndislist, what limits should govern us in adding links?

Limited-visibility content. Content that only members of a certain workgroup can see.

Long lists of Family History Library materials that are not viewable on the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC). For instance, thousands of Greek films are in the FHL's collection but are not viewable on the catalog. Should these be listed on the Wiki?

Alternate place names. Taken to its terminus, an effort to identify and post alternate place names becomes a names authority table. What should this site's limit be?

World Records Manager. Taken to its terminus, an effort to identify the best records to satisfy research objectives, in any country, in any time period, using sources from anywhere, becomes a catalog of all the world's genealogical records. What should our limits be?

Name studies. Lists of common names for an area or guidance as to the geographic distribution of names.

Locality-centric research advice. To what extent should theWiki give advice to patrons, based upon where/how they access records? Should we give advice on satisfying research objective X in Library Y? How will localized advice be navigated, searched and identified by title?

Political information relating to genealogy. For example, a bill that will restrict access to a record collection or a move to purge a library's genealogical collection.

References

↑Today FamilySearch Wiki’s beginner content is quite sparse. Therefore, we will add research guidance, otherwise known as resolution flows or reference interviews, to enable beginners to find good research advice without having to know genealogical methodology or lingo. We will achieve this in a low-tech fashion without having to code anything new in the application.

↑While some readers find case studies to be quite enlightening, many regard them simply as the best cure for insomnia. Inasmuch as case studies can quickly bloat an article, it is often best to cover a case study in a separate article rather than add it to a general page on, say, Pennsylvania Vital Records.